When honoured with the Gold Medal and the Certificate of Honorary Citizen of the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo by the Vila Franca Town Hall – as a result of a proposal unanimously approved by the town hall and the municipal assembly – the President of the Government underlined that this unity is an additional reason for the pride he felt.

If politicians demonstrate the willingness to serve citizens, this attitude this attitude will earn them their respect, regardless of winning or losing elections, Carlos César mentioned, stressing that “the confidence or mistrust in politicians has always been a recurring theme in their assessment.”

For the President of the Regional Government, “what is in question is the good faith of politicians who make commitments or of those who claim to be unable to meet them,” therefore we must make an effort – “we, citizens in general, analysts, journalists - to defend the politicians when we are aware that they act in good faith.”

In Carlos César’s assessment, changing a commitment made to a priority is not to fool people “and the politicians who meet these emergencies are smart and not defaulters; they are rational and not deceivers.”

As he noted, what is also in question regarding the assessment of politicians is their honesty or lack it, as “politicians cannot acquire  money and assets” while carrying out their duties,” unless they have abused or illicitly benefited removed their powers.”

In this context, Carlos César defends “greater transparency, the publication and continuous monitoring of politicians’ assets and their respective households in order to provide detailed information regarding the acquisition of their assets.”
For the President of the Government, “it would be very important in our democratic society, it would be very important, even in our Region, for our democratic tranquillity.”

The resolution of these issues - which adds up to what he described as the excessive and frivolous ways that politicians treat each other – “should be awarded priority status in our democracy and they essential to avoid the increasing separation between policy and other aspects of citizenship.”

Carlos César has no doubt that “as soon as these issues are solved and, regardless of other merits and flaws, the majority of people would hold dear their politicians and they would also feel, too, more respected.”
 
Reiterating his great satisfaction the distinction that had just been awarded to him, Carlos César said that “a politician who has a very noble mission is almost always the result of the circumstances” and, in his case, he considered to have had a several in his favour, such as his contemporaneity with the foundation of autonomy as well as with the advent of democracy, the support of family and his collaborators and even the good influence of people with whom he lived.

The Gold Medal and the Certificate of Honorary Citizen of the municipality of the first capital of São Miguel island were awarded to Carlos César for his commitment to the public cause, as President of the Regional Government, and his decisive action, which has brought development to the Azores and, specifically, to Vila Franca do Campo.

Carlos César’s solidarity and humanitarian nature were also highlighted during this tribute paid to him, being on the basis of the policies he has developed as President of the Government, in order to provide the Azores, and Vila Franca as well, with infrastructures, equipments to support the poor, which has contributed “to improving the quality of life of Vila Franca inhabitants and boosting the economic, social and cultural progress of the municipality.”